Input device

ABSTRACT

An input device includes an input unit for inputting a predetermined motion image signal, a motion detector for detecting a motion on the basis of the motion image signal inputted into the input unit, a video signal processor for outputting a predetermined video signal, and a controller. The controller controls the video signal processor so that, when a motion detector detects a first motion, the video signal processor outputs a video signal to explain a predetermined second motion to be next detected by the motion detector after the detection of the first motion to a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an input device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Personal computers or televisions, which accept user's (operator's)operation via a graphical user interface (which will be referred to asGUI, hereinafter) and simultaneously provide a feedback as a result ofthe user's operation to the user, have come into widespread use.

Patent Document 1 discloses a portable terminal which shows operationguidance information for assist user's operation. The user can execute atarget function by moving her or his finger in an up, down, left orright direction according to the guidance.

Patent Document 2 discloses an interface device which displays a gestureimage to visually indicate a recognition target of a gesture as user'soperation. The user can conduct device operation while confirming thegesture image.

Patent Document 3 discloses a vehicle-mounted device which displaysuser's allowable operations and icons indicative of gesturescorresponding to user's allowable operations. The user can easily know agesture for the user to be conducted.

Patent Document 4 discloses an operation input device for vehicles whichdisplays selection guide information indicative of the state of a user'shand placed on a steering wheel and an operation target device. The usercan select a target operation device by referring to the guide andmoving her or his hand to the target device.

[Prior Art Documents] Patent Document 1: JP-A-2007-213245 PatentDocument 2: JP-A-2008-52590 Patent Document 3: JP-A-2001-216069 PatentDocument 4: JP-A-2005-250785

Any of the aforementioned Patent Documents discloses the fact that amotion and/or pose for user's operation is displayed and the user canconduct an operation (action) relating to a predetermined deviceaccording to the motion or pose.

When the user tries to conduct a predetermined motion or take apredetermined pose for her or his intended operation, however, the usermay erroneously conduct another unintended motion or take anotherunintended pose during user's motion or pose as far as the predeterminedmotion or pose. The unintended motion or pose may erroneously berecognized as an action for user's operation, As a result, the operationfor the user not to intend may undesirably be carried out.

For example, the user tries to move her or his hand in a right directionfor the purpose of moving a displayed content to the right direction, anaction returning the hand located at the right side to a left directionmay be erroneously recognized as an action moving the content to theleft direction and be erroneously carried out.

In other words, any of the above Patent Documents pays no considerationto such a device that, when the user conducts a gesture for user'soperation, the user can intuitively understand whether or not user'seach motion is recognized.

In view of such circumstances, it is therefore an object of the presentinvention is to provide an input device having a good handleabilitywhich causes a user to know as to how user's motion is recognized by theinput device to avoid execution of an unintended operation.

In accordance with the present invention, the above object is attainedby providing an input device which includes an input unit for inputtingoperator's motion as an image signal, a motion detector for detectingthe motion on the basis of the image signal inputted into the inputunit, a display unit for displaying a graphical user interface, and acontroller for causing the display unit to change a display of thegraphical user interface according to the motion detected by the motiondetector. The controller causes the display unit to display a motionsynchronized with the motion detected by the motion detector and also tochange the display of the graphical user interface.

In this case, the display of the graphical user interface is intended tomove display positions of the plurality of selection items for thepurpose of selecting desired one of a plurality of selection items, andthe controller causes the display unit to display a motion synchronizedwith the motion detected by the motion detector and also to move thedisplay positions of the plurality of selection items according to themotion.

In the input device, the controller causes the display unit to displayan operator's motion which is to be desirably detected by the motiondetector for the purpose of explaining the fact that what kind of motionresults in what type of operation to the operator before actuallyconducting a motion.

In this connection, the display of the graphical user interface is usedfor the operator to move display positions of the plurality of selectionitems for the purpose of selecting desired one of the plurality ofselection items, and the controller causes the display unit to display amotion which is necessary to move the display positions of the pluralityof selection items and which is to be desirably detected by the motiondetector.

According to the present invention, for example, when the user tries toconduct an operation for a device such as a television with a gesture,the user can know as to how a gesture being now conducted by the user isrecognized and thereby conduct such a gesture as to carry out itsintended operation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the embodiments of theinvention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining an input device inaccordance with an embodiment 1;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an arrangement of the input device inaccordance with the embodiment 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining how a user to operate the inputdevice of the embodiment 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining operations of the user of theembodiment 1 and associated operations of the input device;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the input deviceof the embodiment 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining operations of the user of theembodiment 1 and associated operations of the input device;

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining how a user operates an input devicein accordance with an embodiment 2;

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining operations of the user of theembodiment 2 and associated operations of the input device;

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining operations of the user of theembodiment 2 and associated operations of the input device; and

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining operations of a user of an inputdevice in accordance with an embodiment 3 and associated operations ofthe input device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Explanation will be made in connection with embodiments to which thepresent invention is applied.

Embodiment 1

An input device 100 in accordance with the embodiment of the presentinvention detects an action of user's hand from an imaged dynamicpicture image of the user and changes a display of a GUI according tothe action.

FIGS. 1A and 1B schematically show an operational environment when theuser uses the input device 100 through a display unit 101, an imagepickup 102, a user 103, and an operational guide 104.

The display unit 101, forms a display section of the input device 100,is a display such as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display. Thedisplay unit 101 has a display panel, a panel control circuit, and apanel control driver; and acts to display video data supplied from avideo signal processor 202 on the display panel. The image pickup 102 isused to input a dynamic picture image into the input device 100, and acamera as an example can be uses as the image pickup. The user 103conducts an operation for the input device 100. The operational guide104 is a GUI displayed on the display unit 101 and has a letter or adiagram for explaining how to operate the input device 100 to the user103.

The input device 100 includes a display unit 101, an image pickup 102,an action or motion detector 200, a controller 201, and a video signalprocessor 202, as shown, e.g., in FIG. 2.

The action or motion detector 200 receives a dynamic picture imagesignal from the image pickup 102 and detects operator's action such asoperator's extended hand, waving hand or rotating hand on the basis ofthe received dynamic picture image signal. The motion detector 200further outputs a predetermined command corresponding to the detectedaction. The controller 201, which is, for example, a microprocessor,controls the operation of the video signal processor 202 according tothe command received from the motion detector 200. The video signalprocessor 202 can be a processor such as ASIC, FPGA or MPU. The videosignal processor 202 converts video data of GUI to data having a formatprocessable by the display unit 101 under control of the controller 201and then outputs the converted data.

FIG. 3 shows relationships among actions of the user 103, associatedoperations of the display unit 101, and associated displays on thedisplay unit when the input device 100 of the present invention isoperated by the user 103. A part of the diagram of FIG. 3 shown by“Normal State” indicates a state where the user 103 does not operate theinput device 100. The input device 100 of the present embodiment isarranged to recognize a hand side-to-side waving action 300 of a hand ofthe user 103 and to start accepting the action of the user 103 inresponse to a trigger of recognizing the hand side-to-side waving action300. Thus, when the user 103 extends her or his hand toward the inputdevice 100 and further waves the extended hand side to side as shown ina part of the diagram of FIG. 3 indicated by “Starting Operation”, thiscauses an operational menu to be displayed on the display unit 101 asshown by a part of the diagram of FIG. 3 indicated by “Operating State”.The menu has an operating wheel 301 and a plurality of selection items302. When the user 103 conducts her or his hand rotating action 303,this causes the operating wheel 301 to be correspondingly rotated andthe selection items 302 to be rotated and shifted. In this manner, theuser 103 can select desired one of the selection items 302.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining relationships between actions ormotions of the user 103 and associated displays of the display unit 101when the user 103 operates the input device 100 shown in FIG. 3. Thedisplay of the display unit includes a displaying way and displayingtiming based on the operational guide 104 or an animation operationalguide 400. The animation operational guide 400 is used to explain how tooperate the menu displayed on the display unit 101 with use of thedynamic picture image to the user.

Explanation will next be made as to the operation of the input device100 by using FIGS. 1A and 1B to FIG. 4 and a flow chart of FIG. 5.

The input device 100 is used to detect an action of the hand of the user103 on the basis of a signal of an imaged dynamic picture image of theuser 103, and changes the display of the GUI according to the detectedaction.

Explanation will be first made as to a flow of operations of the inputdevice 100 after the input device 100 detects an action of the hand ofthe user 103 until the input device displays a GUI according to thedetected action, by referring to FIG. 2. First of all, the user 103starts the operation of the input device 100, for example, by depressinga power button (not shown). The controller 201, in response to the startof the operation, provides an instruction to the video signal processor202 to display a predetermined video. In response to the instruction,the video signal processor 202 outputs a video signal suitable as aninput of the display unit 101. This causes a video to be displayed onthe display unit 101.

The controller 201 when responding to the start of the operationinstructs the image pickup 102 to start imaging a dynamic picture image.In response to the instruction, the image pickup 102 starts imaging thedynamic picture image, and output data on the imaged dynamic pictureimage to the motion detector 200. The motion detector 200 detects user'shand motion on the basis of the received dynamic picture image data by amethod such as feature point extraction. When the motion detectordetermines that the hand's action follows a predetermined pattern, themotion detector outputs a command corresponding to the pattern to thecontroller 201. The controller 201 instructs the video signal processor202 to display the GUI or to change the display according to thecommand. In response to the instruction, the video signal processor 202changes the video signal as an output, which results in that the displayof the GUI on the display unit 101 is changed.

Explanation will then be made as to how to display the operational guide104 and the animation operational guide 400 when the user 103 operatesthe input device 100 with use of FIG. 4 and a flowchart of FIG. 5.

First of all, the user 103 starts the operation of the input device 100according to a predetermined procedure. This causes the controller 201of the input device 100 to start recognition of operator hand's motion(gesture) according to the aforementioned procedure (step 500). Anexample of the state of the user 103 and the input device 100 is shownby “Normal State” in FIG. 4.

As shown by “Start Operation Guide” in FIG. 4, it is assumed that theuser 103 extends her or his hand toward the input device 100 (step 501:Yes). The input device 100 recognizes the extending action of the handof the user 103 and displays the operational guide 104 on the displayunit 101 (step 502). At this time, the operational guide 104 is providedto explain the hand side-to-side waving action 300 as an action(operation starting gesture) when the user 103 starts the operation ofthe input device 100. When the user 103 lowers her or his hand, thiscauses the input device 100 to erase the display of the operationalguide 104 (step 501: No or step 503: No).

Next, as shown by “Starting Operation” in FIG. 4, it is assumed that theuser 103 conducts the hand side-to-side waving action 300 toward theinput device 100 according to the contents explained in the operationalguide 104. Then the input device 100 recognizes the hand side-to-sidewaving action 300, and displays a gesture operational menu having theoperating wheel 301 and the selection items 302 on the display unit 101as shown by “Animation Operational Guide” in FIG. 4 (step 504). Theinput device 100 further displays the animation operational guide 400 onthe display unit 101 to explain how to operate the gesture operationalmenu to the user (step 505). At this time, the animation operationalguide 400 is displayed so that an imaged person appears on the displayunit and as if the person touched the operating wheel 301 with her orhis hand and rotated the hand together with the rotation of the wheel.This animation enables the user 103 to intuitively know how to touch thewheel at a desirable position with the hand and how to move the hand andthe wheel by a desirable shift to obtain a desirable operation.

It is next assumed that the user 103 conducts the hand rotating action303 according to the displayed animation operational guide 400 as shownby “Operational State” in FIG. 4 (step 506: Yes), then the input device100 recognizes the action of the user 103, displays an actionsynchronized with the recognized action based on the animationoperational guide 400, and reflects the recognized action on the gestureoperational menu (step 507). In other words, when the user conducts thehand rotating action 303, the person shown by the animation operationalguide 400 touches its hand on the operating wheel 301 and rotates theoperating wheel 301, thus rotatably shifting the selection items 302even on the display screen.

In this manner, the animation operational guide 400 is used as anasynchronized operational guide to cause the animation to be variedindependently of user's action prior to the operation of the user in thestep 505. In the step 507, when the user starts the operation, theanimation operational guide 400 acts as a synchronized operational guideto cause the animation to be varied in synchronism with the operation ofthe user 103 (refer to FIG. 6).

In this way, the input device 100 recognizes a hand moving action of theuser 103, and displays the operational guide 104 or the animationoperational guide 400 according to the recognized action to present anaction (gesture) valid for the operation to the user 103. Thus, sincethe user 103 can know and confirm what action (gesture) at what timingresults in a desired operation, the user can smoothly conduct such anoperation as to display the menu or to select the menu items.

The asynchronized operational guide is useful for the user beforeoperating the device to know or understand what action enables whatoperation by varying the animation. In the present embodiment, theoperating wheel 301 and the selection items 302 are illustrated in thedisplay screen. These wheel and items are useful especially for a userwho does not understand what action is required for a picture, a figureor an image which can be moved by an operation.

Since the above synchronized operational guide displays the action ofthe user after her or his action to be conducted in the form of ananimation and also causes an actual operation or no operation, thesynchronized operational guide can make the user intuitively knowwhether or not each user's action was recognized. Thus, the user canmodifies her or his action so as to avoid an unintended operation.

Embodiment 2

An embodiment 2 will next be explained. The present embodiment isdifferent from the embodiment 1 in how to operate the input device 100.Thus explanation will be made as to how to operate the input device 100and how to display an operational guide when an action of the user withboth hands enables the user to operate the input device 100. The inputdevice 100 of the present embodiment 2 has substantially the samearrangement as the embodiment 1, but different therefrom in useroperating manner.

The present embodiment will be explained by referring to attacheddrawings, in which constituent elements having functions similar to theconstituent elements of the aforementioned embodiment are denoted by thesame reference numerals, and explanation thereof is omitted.

FIG. 7 illustrates a state of a user's hand action and a GUI displayedon the display unit 101 when the user operates the input device 100 inthe present embodiment. In an operational menu 700 displayed on thedisplay unit 101, three selection items are located on a circular tablein a pseudo 3-dimensional space. One of the selection items positionedat user side in front of the screen is selected. In the operational menu700, presentation of an appearance of both hands' shapes overlapped onthe circular table to the user 103 can give the user 103 an image as ifthe user placed the both hands on the table and turned the table. Sincea user's hand action 701 indicates to move the both hands along a circleorbit in order for the user 103 to operate the operational menu 700. Inthis manner, the user can rotate the circular table and position desiredone of the selection items in front of the display screen.

Explanation will then be made as to the operation of the input device100 and how to display an operational guide in the present embodiment byreferring to FIG. 8.

An illustration shown by “Menu Display” in FIG. 8 indicates a state inwhich a menu is displayed in a manner similar to in the embodiment 1.The input device 100 can recognize a hands' action of the user 103 in amanner similar to in the embodiment 1. When the user 103 extends her orhis both hands toward the input device 100, an animation operationalguide 800 appears as shown by an illustration of “Animation OperationalGuide Display” in FIG. 8. The animation operational guide 800 isdisplayed as a picture of a simulation of an action of both hands of theuser, that is, as a dynamic picture image when the user 103 conducts tooperate the operational menu 700. When the user 103 then starts theoperation of the operational menu 700 according to an operationexplained in the animation operational guide 800, the display of theanimation operational guide 800 disappears and the action of the user103 reflects on the operation of the operational menu 700 as shown by“Operation” in FIG. 8.

In this way, the input device 100 provides an image of an operationalmethod in the form of the shape or appearance of the operational menu700 to the user 103. Further, when the user 103 tries to actuallyconduct an operation based on the above image, the animation operationalguide 800 explaining the detailed operating method of the user ispresented to the user.

As a result, the user can receive a specific guide relating to theoperation at a timing of her or his action. Accordingly, the user cansmoothly operate the menu items while understanding the validity of anaction being conducted by the user or how to operate the input device.

In this connection, the operational menu 700 may be a combination withthe operational menu having the operating wheel 301 and the selectionitems 302 explained in the embodiment 1, for example, as shown in FIG.9. With this arrangement, when the user 103 extends her or his one handtoward the input device 100, an animation operational guide for one handoperation is displayed. When the user 103 extends her or his both handstoward the input device 100, an animation operational guide for bothhands operation is displayed. In this manner, the user can image aplurality of operating patterns via the shape or appearance of such menuor menus and can be guided by the menu or menus of the operating methodwhen the user actually wants to perform a specific operation over theinput device.

Embodiment 3

Explanation will next be made as to an embodiment 3. Explanation will bemade as to an input device of the embodiment 3 which can attain anoperating method similar to in the embodiment 2 by displaying noanimation operational guide and displaying a user's operational image ata location on which an operation is applied in the operational menu inthe input device 100 of the embodiment 2.

The present embodiment will be explained by referring to theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings, constituent elements havingfunctions equivalent to in the aforementioned embodiments are denoted bythe same reference numerals, and explanation thereof is omitted.

Operations of the input device 100 and a displaying method of anoperational image of the present embodiment will be explained by usingFIG. 10.

An operational image 1000 of FIG. 10 is an image of actions of user'shands. This image presents to the user a method when the user grasps twoselection items on the operational menu with her or his both hands andturns a circular table in the operational menu 700. When the user 103extends her or his both hands toward the input device 100, this causesthe operational image 1000 to appear as shown by “Raised Both HandsState 1” in FIG. 10. With this, the user 103 can know the fact that theaction being conducted by the user was put in a valid state or how tooperate the input device. An illustration shown by “Raised Both HandsState 2” in FIG. 10 indicates a state when the user 103 extends her orhis both hands at a position higher than in the “Raised Both Hands State1” of FIG. 10. Even in “Raised Both Hands State 2” of FIG. 10, thedisplayed state of the operational image 1000 is the same as in “RaisedBoth Hands State 1”. Accordingly, the user 103 can recognize that theinput device 100 operates in the same way if the both hands are extendedindependent of the position of the extended user's hands.

In this way, the input device 100 is independent of variations in theoperation of the input device caused when the user 103 has differentaction positions, and displays the operational image 1000 at an actuallocation on which an operation is applied on the operational menuaccording to a simple operation. As a result, the user, when operatingthe input device, can know the fact that the input device is actually inan operable state, and simultaneously can confirm the location on whichan operation is applied on the operational menu and operate the inputdevice through such an action as not to require accuracy.

It should be further understood by those skilled in the art thatalthough the foregoing description has been made on embodiments of theinvention, the invention is not limited thereto and various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

1. An input device comprising: an input unit for inputting operator'smotion as an image signal; a motion detector for detecting the motion onthe basis of the image signal inputted into the input unit; a displayunit for displaying a graphical user interface; and a controller forcausing the display unit to change a display of the graphical userinterface according to the motion detected by the motion detector,wherein the controller causes the display unit to display a motionsynchronized with the motion detected by the motion detector and also tochange the display of the graphical user interface.
 2. An input deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein the display of the graphical user interfaceis intended to move display positions of the plurality of selectionitems for the purpose of selecting desired one of a plurality ofselection items, and the controller causes the display unit to display amotion synchronized with the motion detected by the motion detector andalso to move the display positions of the plurality of selection itemsaccording to the motion.
 3. An input device according to claim 1,wherein the motion detected by the motion detector is a motion of onehand of an operator, and the displayed synchronized motion indicates amotion of one hand of the operator.
 4. An input device according toclaim 1, wherein the motion detected by the motion detector is a motionof both hands of an operator, and the displayed synchronized motionindicates a motion of the both hands of the operator.
 5. An input deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the controller causes the display unit todisplay a motion which is required to be detected by the motion detectorin order to show what operation is made by what motion to the operatorbefore conducting an action.
 6. An input device according to claim 5,wherein the display of the graphical user interface is intended to movethe display positions of a plurality of selection items for the purposeof selecting desired one of the plurality of selection items, and thecontroller causes the display unit to display a motion which is requiredto move the display positions of the plurality of selection items andwhich is required to be detected by the motion detector.
 7. An inputdevice according to claim 5, wherein the motion required to be displayedis a motion of one hand of the user.
 8. An input device according toclaim 5, wherein the motion required to be displayed is a motion of bothhands of the user.